230 



of the roots,) in order to ascertain, if the excavation be of 

 the proper depth? Supposing the depth of the root to be 

 fourteen or fifteen inches (which in a beech is very suppo- 

 sable,) and the whole depth of the prepared soil of the pit to 

 be two feet ; then he directs the workmen to prepare a bed 

 in the centre somewhat deeper, say three or four inches, to 

 receive the taproots, should they be prominent, which with 

 the beech seldom happens ; sloping the pit upwards in the 

 cup-fashion, but leaving it at the sides as high as before. 



It is a matter of first-rate importance to get the tree set in 

 the pit as shalloio as possible, and to allow suflicient pabulum 

 for the downright roots, on the one hand, and a sufficient 

 cover at top, upon the other. If the subsoil be dry, the 

 director may give and take a little in making his estimate ; 

 but, if it be tenacious of moisture, better that you should 

 have a cart-load or two of earth to add to the mound after- 

 wards, than that the roots should be deprived of the full 

 influence of the sun and air, by being insufficiently raised 

 up. No stagnation of water can ever occur in the prepared 

 soil of the pit, if the directions given in the last Section as 

 to judicious excavation, be properly apprehended and followed 

 out. 



The second thing he has to advert to is, to ascertain the 

 position of the mark previously made upon the stem, w^hile 

 the tree stood upright, for designating the side where the 

 longest boughs are thrown out, so that, in moving towards 

 the pit, such a course may be steered, as to bring those 

 boughs to the stormy quarter, which generally is the west 

 or southwest. Almost all trees, as already stated in Section 

 IV., are unequally balanced, and show in their tops more or 

 less of w^hat is called " a weather-side." This in many cases 

 is a striking deformity, especially in situations on the western 

 coasts, and is -often seen to mar the eflfect of trees otherwise 

 beautiful. It proceeds from the tendency, which they gene- 

 rally have, to throw out longer and stouter branches on the 



